The COVID-19 pandemic has been an extraordinary period for science journalists, and reporting the facts and establishing the truth about the unfolding health crisis has been one of the greatest journalistic challenges of modern times. The final episode of the QUEST podcast series looks at how journalists have covered the crisis amid limited scientific data and sometimes confusing information about the virus.

In this episode
- Marlene Weiß, Head of the Science Department, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany
- Kysia Hekster, EU and NATO correspondent, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), Netherlands
- Freya Robb, Press Officer, Science Media Centre, UK

Hosted by Barbara Schofield. Production by Atina Dimitrova.

‘QUEST – QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication' is a Horizon 2020 EU funded project. Read more: questproject.eu

Social media is a fast and accessible way for scientists to communicate about the results of their research, find potential collaborators, and make a positive connection between the science and the public at large. This episode looks at scientists’ use of social media, what platforms and strategies they employ, and what advantages the different social media platforms offer. We also highlight the guidance that the QUEST project has produced to help scientists improve their social media activities.

QUEST Toolkits, including resources to support science communication on social media: https://questproject.eu/toolkits/

In this episode:
- Ana Godinho, Head of Education, Communications and Outreach, CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, Switzerland
- Dania Movia, Senior Research Fellow, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Fabiana Zollo, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’Foscari University of Venice, Italy

Hosted by Barbara Schofield. Production by Atina Dimitrova.

‘QUEST – QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication' is a Horizon 2020 EU funded project. Read more: questproject.eu

Levels of vaccine hesitancy in some European countries during the Covid-19 pandemic have been worryingly high, and problems with vaccine supply chains, along with a rare medical outcome associated with certain vaccines, have also damaged public confidence. This episode looks at the issue of communication about vaccines, how effective it is, and how to best tackle sometimes understandable and deep-seated concerns about vaccine safety.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Handbook: https://hackmd.io/@scibehC19vax/home

In this episode:
- Dr Dawn Holford, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Essex, UK
- Dr Ann Robinson, Doctor and Health Journalist, UK

Hosted by Barbara Schofield. Production by Atina Dimitrova.

‘QUEST – QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication' is a Horizon 2020 EU funded project. Read more: questproject.eu

This episode looks at the challenges that scientists and journalists face when communicating about climate change. Should scientists aim to make confident statements and avoid discussing scientific uncertainties when talking to the general public about climate change? Rather than just feeding the public with negative stories, how can journalists educate and inform their audience, and help build the public’s agency and ability to respond to the crisis?

In this episode:
- Dr. Jana Sillmann, Research Director, CICERO Center for International Climate Research, Norway
- Philippa Nuttall Jones, Editor-in-chief, Energy Monitor, Belgium

Hosted by Barbara Schofield. Production by Atina Dimitrova.

‘QUEST – QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication' is a Horizon 2020 EU funded project. Read more: questproject.eu

Artificial intelligence is one of the biggest issues facing human society in the 21st century, and there is an urgent need to consider its ethical accountability and impact on diversity. This episode discusses how science communicators can strike a balance between describing the potential benefits of AI technologies (increased efficiency, automation, smarter decision-making) while at the same time pointing out the possible negative consequences and risks, including job losses, increased surveillance and worsened economic inequality.

In this episode:
- Ann Nowé, Professor and Head of the Artificial Intelligence Lab, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
- Milena Merten, Lead Editor, ada, Germany

The audio clips of Eva Kaili are taken from an interview with EIT Digital in June 2020.

Hosted by Barbara Schofield. Production by Atina Dimitrova.

‘QUEST – QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication' is a Horizon 2020 EU funded project. Read more: questproject.eu

Science centres, galleries and museums offer visitors a direct route to science – it’s where people and science meet face to face. This episode looks at the different ways museum and gallery spaces in Dublin, Milan and Belgrade have developed more effective science communication activities.

In this episode:
- Dr Mairead Hurley, Research Fellow in the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
- Muiriosa Guinan, Art-Science Curriculum Coordinator, Science Gallery Dublin, Ireland
- Dobrivoje Lale Eric, Head of Department of International Cooperation, Center for the Promotion of Science, Belgrade, Serbia
- Maria Xanthoudaki, Director of Education & CREI (Centre for Research in Informal Education), Leonardo da Vinci National Gallery of Science and Technology, Milan, Italy

Hosted by Barbara Schofield. Production by Atina Dimitrova.

‘QUEST – QUality and Effectiveness in Science and Technology communication' is a Horizon 2020 EU funded project. Read more: questproject.eu